Salt Life

"Salt Life" is what daydreams are made of. Watching a sunrise over the ocean from a sandy beach with waves lapping at your feet while sandpipers scurry back and forth, running from the waves then chasing them back to the sea. No sound but the surf. Pure peace! From home in Indiana, this is the author's personal dream and the motivation for this song.

A sea chanty style was required for a tune about the salt life so we're offering this one in an optional 3-part mixed vocal version. The bass clef tenor line is an easy range for your lower, changing, or changed voices. Sea chanties must "bounce" so give the eighth notes a little lilt and emphasize the downbeats of each measure to achieve the desired effect. Our studio singers are a good example.

We start mezzo forte in unison for verse one, breaking into a 3-part forte at the chorus. Verse two, back to mezzo forte, is 3-part all the way through the next chorus and bridge. Forte at that second chorus and build through the bridge. At verse three we bring it back to a simple and soft mezzo piano unison accompanied by accordion and pan flute. Then bring it home full out at the chorus with all three parts.

The band is made up of drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitars, mandolin, whistle, string section, accordion, and pan flute. See if your students can pick out the different textures in the accompaniment version. Of course, part 2 and part 3 practice mixes can be found on our web site as well as a unison version.

And in case you're curious, this song was inspired by a little piece of paradise called Saint George Island near Apalachicola, Florida.